Many friends and other vintage Karters from around the country gathered in Hawkes Bay at the beginning of September at the Blossom 40 and Octane 07 two day event to catch up and celebrate karting from a bygone era. This is one of those peoples stories from that weekend.
Words and pictures by Mark Jenkinson
Mark
Jenkinson seated in kart
with Snow Hyndman standing
A Cheetah!
Many years ago I saw a Margay Cheetah at a previous National Stewards home but took little notice. About 10 year ago a good friend Dale Ineson took procession of that kart but did nothing with it so I asked could I buy it from him but he was adamant that he would restore it “one day”.
Last year he did, along with his wife’s “Karlsson/Yamaha twin and they brought them both to the “50th” celebration at the 39th Blossom Sprint meeting.
At this meeting Snow Hyndman at 79 years of age drove my Dart GP twin and afterwards said he had “an old kart” hanging up in his shed if I would like it.
When I picked it up a month later I found that while much was missing including the front wheels, stubs and all the brakes at least the engine mounts where there and it was a 1973 Mk111 Margay Cheetah. My “dream kart” Fortunately the 6” rear wheels were there along with 3 good tyres.
A few months ago I started to restore the kart with a view to having it ready for Blossom 40 and Octane 07.
Finally on Sunday the 26th September the kart was completed at 2 am and run at the Hawkes Bay Kart Club’s August club day.
There was carb flooding on the LHS which was remedied with a carb swap.
Blossom 40.
Many friends and other vintage Karters from around the country gathered in Hawkes Bay for this event with most coming to 221 Warwick Road on Friday evening for a Bar B Que.
I asked Snow to help with a table in the shed and was quite emotional when he saw the fully restored kart carrying his number 93 which caused him to remove his glasses to wipe away a tear or two. He was speechless and I was proud I have been able to restore the kart to perhaps better than new condition.
We partied and told stories until the early hours when a late leaver made an offer on the kart which was certainly turned down and perhaps not in the best condition went to bed with the expectation of the true test later that morning.
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Snow went out first and while a bit tough on the brakes (well he is now 80) he enjoyed himself. Tony Wallace was next, a reward for missing a ride in the Dart last year and for his help in securing the kart for me and his help over the week end. While he was a little faster it wasn’t running that well which was confirmed when I had my turn. The RH motor was extremely rich despite having a lean spot mid range. Tony rebuilt the carb with a new needle valve and we thought it should work for Sunday’s session. We started it Sunday a.m. and it was clearly no better and even with the jet turned right in it still ran rich. We put the carb that had been on the LHS on the right motor and fired it up. Immediately we had a sharp pair of 93’s and with an “on the stand tune” we headed for the track. My turn first today and it was flying. First several Dart Macs bit the dust then the Yamaha Twin and a couple of Rotaries, another Dart twin and then the big prize the similar kart powered by twin K 88’s which was being piloted by previous multi title holder GR Harrison. At first I thought he would be too quick but soon realized his kart wasn’t handling that well and took him between two right handers. Only one kart to beat and that was my old Dart now back with the Gough family. Dean gave me a bit of a run for my money but finally succumbed to the new kart despite giving them all many stones in weight advantage. Graeme the Guru took it out next as his reward for the support and machining he had done for the kart and his grin told the story. Finally Rhod Murray’s son Alisdair did a couple of laps before the chequered flag was produced to end the session. We cleaned the kart and put it back on display with the other 20 vintage karts which had been brought to the meet. The project became a little rushed towards the end with 3 of my immediate family ending up in intensive care within a 6 week period, two of them on life support. I must thank all those that helped as I struggled for time and also with a few problems I encountered a long the way like breaking the corner off an engine and having to get 3 axles made, then new rear discs at the last moment etc. |
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Firstly Snow for the kart and being here to see it completed and run, Tony and Neil for bringing Snow through and helping over the weekend. The Guru Graeme Sutton for the brakes, the 3 axles and the other machining he did. Marcel and Ryan at ATi for their assistance. John at Jetex for the front discs and Kim at McLaren Stainless Steel for the rear discs. The Curran boys for the plating, Graeme Voss for the assistance with replacing the side rail and parts he supplied. Topaz paints, Cowan Sheetmetal and Vince in the workshop at work. Colin Blakesley for the alloy welding. Dale Ineson for his assistance and parts and John Neill for the engines he rebuilt 25 years ago. And I could not have attempted the project without my American contacts Bill Pryor, Paul Booth, Aaron Cox, Margay themselves and Bert Ryan. Finally my wife Sharon and daughter Shona for the time they lost with me in the garage day and night. It has been worth it. Roll on New Zealand Karting's 50th anniversary in 2009. I’ll have the Dart 91B/1 ready for that dear. |
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